Locking mechanism for unisex ball valve coupling

ABSTRACT

A unisex ball valve coupling includes an interface end that engages an interface end of a mating coupling half assembly. A valve of the coupling has a valve body, which has an open position in which fluid flow is permitted through the internal passage and a closed position in which the valve body closes off fluid flow through the internal passage. A valve shaft rotates with the valve body between the open position and the closed position. The valve shaft has a first surface. A blocking member is movable from a blocking position to a non-blocking position within the body portion. In the blocking position, the blocking member engages the first surface of the valve shaft to secure the valve body in the closed position and, in the non-blocking position, the blocking member does not engage the first surface of the valve shaft to permit opening of the valve.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Related applications are listed in an Application Data Sheet (ADS)accompanying this application. The entirety of each related applicationlisted on the ADS is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a unisex coupling or a quick disconnectcoupling, in which two identical coupling halves can be connected to oneanother normally by relative rotation therebetween. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a unisex coupling with a locking mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

The ball valved type unisex coupling currently in production utilizes amanually operated ball valve being opened or closed by turning a handle.When two identical halves are connected, an interface seal will beengaged against each other. As the ball valves are open, a flow pathwill be established through the coupling assembly. Also, while theassemblies are connected and valve opened, a locking mechanism will beactuated by the operating handles so that the two connected couplinghalves cannot be disconnected as long as either one of the ball valvesremains open.

In the one such unisex coupling currently produced by the Assignee ofthe present application and disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. US2012/0007007 A1, the entirety of which is incorporated by referenceherein, the valve shaft of the coupling has a cam section machined onits outwardly-facing surface. When the valve handle is turned, the cammechanically drives a number of balls through the coupling body suchthat a portion of the ball in the far end (away from the cam surface) isdriven into the path of the mating half latching lug, securing themating half in the connected position. As the valve is turned to theclosed position, the cam frees the balls to roll back into the valvebody either by gravity or compression from the disconnecting turn motionof the mating half, thus freeing the mating half to be disconnected.

The unisex coupling is equipped with an operating handle to open orclose the ball valve. The ball valve actuation is accomplished byturning of the handle. This handle features a spring locking mechanismwith a plunger. When turned to the selected open or closed position, thespring will push the plunger into a respective slot on the handle bossof the coupling body such that the handle will be locked in the selectedposition and cannot be inadvertently turned from its selected position.

Unisex couplings of known existing art employ a locking mechanism toaddress the spillage safety of the coupling in the connected position,and such locking mechanisms prevent inadvertent disconnection of thecoupling halves. While known locking mechanisms prevent the two halvesfrom being disconnected unless the ball valves in both connected halvesare in the closed position, it is still possible that the ball valve ofa disconnected coupling could be mistakenly opened by operating thevalve handle. Thus, while known locking mechanisms can provide a securedsafety feature to prevent the coupling from being disconnected with aball valve still in open position, it can only provide limited securityto prevent a ball valve from being opened inadvertently when thecoupling halves are disconnected. Known locking mechanisms do notprevent a user from unintentionally opening a ball valve, such as bytaking the simple steps required to pull and turn the handle, while thecoupling is in the disconnected condition. Opening a ball valve whilethe two halves are disconnected can result in spillage of the coupling'scontents and in loss of pressure in the coupling.

SUMMARY

An object of at least some embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a mechanism or means for securing the ball valve in the closedposition with the coupling halves disconnected. As described above, aunisex coupling is a quick disconnect mechanism with two identicalhalves connected together by a turning action, which form a leak-tightflow path when connected that allows for the transfer of fluid throughthe coupling assembly. As understood by those skilled in the art, thecoupling is referred to as “unisex” or “identical” because the interfaceportions of the two coupling halves are substantially identical (asopposed to having a male/female relationship or other non-identicalarrangement). However, it is not necessary that the entirety of bothcoupling halves be identical. For example, one of the coupling halvesmay include a valve mechanism, while the other of the coupling halvesmay not.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention employ a cross shaft tosecure the ball valve in the closed position when the coupling is in thedisconnected position. In some embodiments, the coupling ball valverotates (e.g., from open to closed) above at least one valve shaft,which may be a handle shaft and a guide shaft, aligned through the axisof the ball valve. One or more of the valve shafts can comprise a notchor other recess on its outer diameter. A lock shaft or cross shaftcomprising stepped diameters, or other features that create aninterference or blocking portion, can be positioned against the notchedvalve shaft. Some embodiments of the cross shaft can be spring loaded sothat one end of the shaft protrudes beyond the interface end of thecoupling while the coupling is in the disconnected position. When thecoupling is in the disconnected position, an interference or blockingportion of the cross shaft (e.g., the larger of the stepped diameters ofthe cross shaft) can engage the valve shaft at the notch, and canprevent the valve shaft from being rotated.

In some embodiments, when the two halves of the coupling are connected,they are secured to each other at the interface by the latching lugs.The closing of the interface compresses the cross shaft, comprising atleast two stepped diameters, into the coupling body against a loadingspring. As the cross shaft is compressed, its large diameter portionclears the notch on the valve shaft and allows the valve shaft to berotated into the small diameter portion of the cross shaft, allowing theball valve to be opened only with the halves of the coupling in theconnected position.

Some embodiments of the present invention are intended to retainfeatures of the unisex couplings of the existing art, for example, thefeature that the coupling ball valve must be fully closed before thecoupling halves can be disconnected. In certain embodiments, closing theball valve can align the notch on the valve shaft with the cross shaft.Some embodiments can employ disconnecting and separating of the couplinghalves to allow the spring to move the large diameter section of thecross shaft back into the notch section of the valve shaft, securing theball valve in the closed position.

At least some of the preferred embodiments differ from the existing artin at least one respect by employing a mechanism that prevents the ballvalve of a disconnected coupling from being opened by turning the valvehandle. Benefits of such an arrangement include, but are not limited to:the coupling needs to be connected and therefore fully sealed before thecoupling ball valve handle can be turned open, providing the necessaryspillage security when the unisex coupling is in the disconnectedposition. In comparison to the prior art, preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are more secure from inadvertent spillage of thecoupling contents and from inadvertent changes in the pressure of thecoupling.

An embodiment involves a unisex ball valve coupling including a bodyportion having an internal passage and an interface end that isconfigured to engage an interface end of a mating coupling halfassembly. The interface end includes a circumferential groove configuredto receive a portion of the interface end of the mating coupling half. Avalve is positioned within the body portion. The valve has a valve body,which has an open position in which fluid flow is permitted through theinternal passage and a closed position in which the valve body closesoff fluid flow through the internal passage. The valve also includes avalve shaft that engages the valve body and rotates with the valve bodybetween the open position and the closed position. The valve shaft has afirst surface. A blocking member is movable from a blocking position toa non-blocking position within the body portion. In the blockingposition, the blocking member engages the first surface of the valveshaft to secure the valve body in the closed position and, in thenon-blocking position, the blocking member does not engage the firstsurface of the valve shaft to permit opening of the valve.

In some configurations, the blocking member is biased toward theblocking position by a biasing member. The biasing member can be a coilspring. The interface end can define a groove that receives a portion ofan interface end of the mating coupling half, wherein a portion of theblocking member is located within the groove in the non-blockingposition. The interface end of the mating coupling half can contact theportion of the blocking member and move the blocking member to thenon-blocking position when the mating coupling half is coupled to theinterface end of the unisex ball valve coupling.

In some configurations, a locking mechanism prevents the unisex ballvalve coupling from being disconnected from a mating coupling half whenthe valve is in the open position.

An embodiment involves a unisex ball valve coupling including a bodyportion having an internal passage and an interface end that isconfigured to engage an interface end of a mating coupling halfassembly. The interface end includes a circumferential groove configuredto receive a portion of the interface end of the mating coupling half. Avalve within the body portion has a valve body, which has an openposition in which fluid flow is permitted through the internal passageand a closed position in which the valve body closes off fluid flowthrough the internal passage. The valve also includes a valve shaft thatengages the valve body and rotates with the valve body between the openposition and the closed position. The valve shaft has a notched portion.A handle is coupled to the valve shaft and the valve shaft rotates alongwith rotation of the handle such that the handle can be used to move thevalve body between the open position and the closed position. A crossshaft within the body portion includes a first portion having a firstdiameter and a second portion having a reduced diameter relative to thefirst diameter. The cross shaft has a first position in which the firstportion of the cross shaft engages the valve shaft at the notchedportion and secures the valve body in the closed position. The crossshaft also has a second position in which the second portion is alignedwith the valve shaft and permits the valve body to move from the closedposition.

In some configurations, the cross shaft is biased toward the firstposition by a biasing member. The biasing member can be a coil spring.The interface end can define a groove that receives a portion of aninterface end of the mating coupling half, wherein an end portion of thecross shaft is located within the groove in the non-blocking position.The interface end of the mating coupling half can contact the endportion of the cross shaft and move the cross shaft to the secondposition when the mating coupling half is coupled to the interface endof the unisex ball valve coupling.

In some configurations, the second portion of the cross shaft comprisesa tapered cross-section having a variable diameter.

In some configurations, a locking mechanism can prevent the unisex ballvalve coupling from being disconnected from a mating coupling half whenthe valve is in the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an end view of an embodiment of an assembled coupling halfthat includes a ball valve, with a ball valve in the closed position.The other coupling half of the assembly is not shown for clarity.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of an embodiment of an assembled couplinghalf that includes a ball valve, with the ball valve in the closedposition. The other coupling half of the assembly is not shown forclarity.

FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view of an embodiment of an assembled couplinghalf, with a cross shaft against a guide shaft.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a cross shaft against a guide shaft in arelative position that occurs in a disconnected coupling with a ballvalve in the closed position. For clarity, the cross shaft and guideshaft are shown separated from the remaining components of the couplinghalf

FIG. 5 shows the cross shaft and guide shaft of FIG. 4 in a relativeposition that occurs in a connected coupling with a ball valve in theopen position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of a unisex coupling assembly having apreferably generally or substantially cylindrical body 2 with a bumper 1installed at its interface end for drag and drop protection. Abutterfly-shaped groove 30 with an undercut can be machined or otherwiseformed at the interface end of the body. Two latching lugs 17 and 18 canbe positioned relative to the groove such that the latching lugs 17 and18 can be inserted into the butterfly shape groove of the mating halfand can latch to it upon being turned for connection. There are multipleways that the latching lugs 17 and 18 may be secured to the couplingbody 2. In some embodiments, they can be secured with use of fasteners.In other embodiments they can be machined as part of the coupling body2. Other suitable methods for forming or attaching the lugs 17 and 18may also be used. In some embodiments, an interface seal 16 can beinstalled at the interface end of the coupling body 2. When the couplinghalves are connected, the interface seals 16 of both halves can engageeach other to form a leak-tight interface between the two halves.

Some embodiments of the valved version of the unisex coupling can beequipped with a valve arrangement, such as a ball valve 24, inside thecoupling body 2. The ball valve 24 can turn about an axis defined by therotational centers of the handle shaft 9 and guide shaft 15 (alsoreferred to collectively as the valve shaft). When turned to the closedposition, the ball valve can engage a seal ring 14 to stop externalleakage through the interface end of the coupling. In some embodiments,the seal ring 14 can be equipped with an 0-ring seal 13 which can sealbetween the seal ring 14 outside diameter and coupling body 2 insidediameter to inhibit or eliminate external leakage around the seal ring14.

In some embodiments, the ball valve 24 can be opened or closed byturning the handle 6. The illustrated handle 6 can be secured to thehandle shaft 9, for example by using fasteners such as screws 3. Certainembodiments of the handle 6 can be equipped with a locking mechanism.The locking mechanism can lock the handle 6 and hence the ball valve 24in either the open or closed position when so selected by aninterference or interlocking mechanism or arrangement between the handleassembly and the coupling body 2, such as that described in U.S. PatentPublication No. US 2012/0007007 A1.

Some embodiments of the cam action ball jamming mechanism can include anumber of balls 12 trapped in a hole in the coupling body 2 between thehandle shaft 9 (or other portion of the valve shaft) and the bottomsurface of the butterfly shaped groove, which accommodates the matingcoupling latching lugs. The balls 12 can be retained in the couplingbody 2 by a retaining disc 10 which can be compression fitted (orotherwise secured) into the coupling body 2. In some embodiments, theballs 12 can engage a cam section (not specifically identified) machinedor otherwise provided on the side surface of the handle shaft 9. Whenthe handle shaft 9 and the ball valve 24 are in the closed position, thecam of the handle shaft 9 allows the balls 12 to retract into thecoupling body 2 opening up a free path in the butterfly shaped groove toaccommodate the latching lugs from the mating coupling. In someembodiments, after the two coupling halves are connected, placing thehandle 6 in the open position can allow the cam of the handle shaft 9 tojam the end one of these balls 12 into the bottom of the butterfly shaftgroove at the interface of the coupling body 2. When the end one of theballs 12 is located in the disconnection path for one of the latchinglugs 17, 18 of the mating coupling, placing the ball valve 24 of eithermating coupling half in open position blocks the other half from beingturned for disconnection. Although a series of balls 12 are illustrated,and are used for their ability to smoothly move within the hole of thecoupling body 2, other suitable bodies may be provided to transfer themotion of the cam surface to a blocking member within the butterflyshaft groove. For example, a non-spherical member (such as a rod) couldbe used alone or between two end balls 12 to transfer motion from a ball12 contacting the cam surface to the end ball 12 that moves into thebutterfly shaft groove and acts as a blocking member. Preferredarrangements do not require spring-biasing and avoid intricately-shapedmotion transfer mechanisms, such as gears.

As in the unisex coupling of existing art, some embodiments of the endof the coupling body 2 opposite to the interface end comprises anadapter end 22. The adapter end 22 of the unisex coupling can comprise aball swivel 11 such that an adapter 22 of all fitting methods (threads,flanges, hose barbs, camlock fittings etc.) can be installed forassembly of the unisex coupling to its mounting equipment (such ashoses, nozzles etc.) as required. Certain embodiments of the adapter 22can comprise an O-ring seal 23 which can establish a leakage free swivelwith the coupling body 2. In some embodiments, a thrust bushing 21 canbe placed between the ball valve 2 and the adapter 22 to align the valveball 24 with the handle shaft 9 and guide shaft 15, facilitating turningof the ball valve 24 to the opened or closed position.

Also disclosed herein is a mechanism for securing the ball valve 24 inthe closed position when the coupling halves are disconnected from oneanother or either coupling half is not connected to a mating couplinghalf. Preferably, the mechanism includes a blocking member (e.g., across shaft 27) that has a first or blocking position when the couplinghalf is disconnected and a second or non-blocking position when thecoupling half is connected. In the blocking position, the blockingmember preferably interferes with rotation of the ball valve 24 from aclosed position to an open position to inhibit or prevent opening of theball valve 24. The interference may be with any portion of the valvearrangement of the coupling, and in one preferred embodiment is with thevalve shaft (e.g., the guide shaft 15 or the handle shaft 9). In someembodiments, the guide shaft 15 is blocked by the blocking member;however, in other embodiments the handle shaft 15 could be blocked bythe blocking member. In the non-blocking position, the blocking memberdoes not interfere with rotation of the valve thereby permitting thevalve to be moved to the open position. Preferably, the blocking memberis biased toward the blocking position and can be moved to thenon-blocking position by the cooperating coupling half. Some embodimentsof this mechanism comprise a biased (e.g., biased by a spring 28) crossshaft 27 comprising a recess or an inwardly-stepped diameter in thecoupling body 2. In some embodiments, the guide shaft 15 can be providedwith a recess or notched section 32. As shown in FIG. 3, someembodiments of the cross shaft 27 can be positioned perpendicularly nextto the guide shaft 15. With the two halves of the unisex couplingdisconnected with the ball valve 24 closed, the spring 28 can push thecross shaft 27 such that the end of the cross shaft 27 protrudes beyondthe interface end of the coupling body 2 and also positions the largediameter portion of the cross shaft 27 into the notched section 32 ofthe guide shaft 15. This arrangement can cause the cross shaft 15 toblock rotation of the guide shaft 15 and thereby prevent the ball valve24 from being rotated open.

As shown in FIGS. 4-5, in some embodiments ball valve closure can causethe notched section 32 of the guide shaft 15 to align with the crossshaft 27. Upon disconnection of the coupling halves, the cross shaft 15is to be reset by the loading spring 28 (numbered in FIG. 2) such thatthe large diameter of the cross section 15 moves back into the notch 32on the guide shaft 15, securing the ball valve closed when the halves ofthe coupling are in the disconnected position. In some embodiments,engagement of the coupling interface ends can compress the cross shaft27 into the coupling body, disengaging the large diameter portion of thecross shaft 27 from the notch 32 of the guide shaft 15. Disengaging thecross shaft 27 from the notch 32 allows the guide shaft 15 to be turnedinto the small diameter portion of the cross shaft 27, allowing the ballvalve to be rotated open.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. In particular, while the present interface locking mechanismfor a unisex ball valve coupling has been described in the context ofparticularly preferred embodiments, the skilled artisan will appreciate,in view of the present disclosure, that certain advantages, features andaspects of the mechanism and overall system may be realized in a varietyof other applications, many of which have been noted above.Additionally, it is contemplated that various aspects and features ofthe invention described can be practiced separately, combined together,or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination andsubcombinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fallwithin the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scopeof the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular disclosed embodiments described above, but should bedetermined only by a fair reading of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A unisex ball valve coupling comprising: a bodyportion having an internal passage and an interface end that isconfigured to engage an interface end of a mating coupling halfassembly, the interface end comprising a circumferential grooveconfigured to receive a portion of the interface end of the matingcoupling half; a valve within the body portion, the valve having a valvebody, which has an open position in which fluid flow is permittedthrough the internal passage and a closed position in which the valvebody closes off fluid flow through the internal passage, the valvefurther comprising a valve shaft that engages the valve body and rotateswith the valve body between the open position and the closed position,the valve shaft having a first surface; a blocking member movable from ablocking position to a non-blocking position within the body portion;wherein in the blocking position the blocking member engages the firstsurface of the valve shaft to secure the valve body in the closedposition and in the non-blocking position the blocking member does notengage the first surface of the valve shaft to permit opening of thevalve.
 2. The unisex ball valve coupling of claim 1, wherein theblocking member is biased toward the blocking position by a biasingmember.
 3. The unisex ball valve coupling of claim 2, wherein thebiasing member is a coil spring.
 4. The unisex ball valve coupling ofclaim 3, wherein the interface end defines a groove that receives aportion of an interface end of the mating coupling half, wherein aportion of the blocking member is located within the groove in thenon-blocking position.
 5. The unisex ball valve coupling of claim 4,wherein the interface end of the mating coupling half contacts theportion of the blocking member and moves the blocking member to thenon-blocking position when the mating coupling half is coupled to theinterface end of the unisex ball valve coupling.
 6. The unisex ballvalve coupling of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism thatprevents the unisex ball valve coupling from being disconnected from amating coupling half when the valve is in the open position.
 7. A unisexball valve coupling comprising: a body portion having an internalpassage and an interface end that is configured to engage an interfaceend of a mating coupling half assembly, the interface end comprising acircumferential groove configured to receive a portion of the interfaceend of the mating coupling half; a valve within the body portion, thevalve having a valve body, which has an open position in which fluidflow is permitted through the internal passage and a closed position inwhich the valve body closes off fluid flow through the internal passage,the valve further comprising a valve shaft that engages the valve bodyand rotates with the valve body between the open position and the closedposition, the valve shaft having a notched portion; a handle coupled tothe valve shaft, wherein the valve shaft rotates along with rotation ofthe handle such that the handle can be used to move the valve bodybetween the open position and the closed position; a cross shaft withinthe body portion, the cross shaft comprising a first portion having afirst diameter and a second portion having a reduced diameter relativeto the first diameter; wherein the cross shaft has a first position inwhich the first portion of the cross shaft engages the valve shaft atthe notched portion and secure the valve body in the closed position,and wherein the cross shaft has a second position in which the secondportion is aligned with the valve shaft and permits the valve body tomove from the closed position.
 8. The unisex ball valve coupling ofclaim 7, wherein the cross shaft is biased toward the first position bya biasing member.
 9. The unisex ball valve coupling of claim 8, whereinthe biasing member is a coil spring.
 10. The unisex ball valve couplingof claim 9, wherein the interface end defines a groove that receives aportion of an interface end of the mating coupling half, wherein an endportion of the cross shaft is located within the groove in thenon-blocking position.
 11. The unisex ball valve coupling of claim 10,wherein the interface end of the mating coupling half contacts the endportion of the cross shaft and moves the cross shaft to the secondposition when the mating coupling half is coupled to the interface endof the unisex ball valve coupling.
 12. The unisex ball valve coupling ofclaim 7, wherein the second portion of the cross shaft comprises atapered cross-section having a variable diameter.
 13. The unisex ballvalve coupling of claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism thatprevents the unisex ball valve coupling from being disconnected from amating coupling half when the valve is in the open position.